Microincision lens

Abstract

A foldable lens comprises an outer refractive surface portion comprising a first plurality of convexly curved refractive profile regions having positive optical power to converge light energy with refraction toward a focus on the retina. The convexly curved refractive profile regions of the outer region may correspond to at least about a quarter of the refractive power of the lens, such that the lens thickness is decreased substantially and the folded lens can fit through a small incision. The outer refractive surface portion focuses light with refraction, in focus images viewed through the outer portion of the lens can appear sharp to the patient. The outer refractive surface portion also comprises a second plurality of concavely curved refractive profile regions having negative optical power disposed between the first plurality, so as to diverge the light energy substantially away from the focus on the retina, such that visual artifacts are inhibited.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A foldable lens for insertion into an eye of a patient through an incision, the eye having a retina, the foldable lens comprising an optically transparent foldable material having a first side disposed opposite a second side, the first side comprising an inner optical surface portion and an outer refractive surface portion disposed about the inner optical surface portion, wherein the outer refractive surface portion comprises a first plurality of convexly curved refractive profile regions comprised of a convex set radius of curvature configured to converge light energy toward a focus on the retina and a second plurality of concavely curved refractive profile regions comprised of a concave set radius of curvature configured to diverge light energy away from the focus on the retina, and wherein the foldable lens has a center, and wherein each of the first plurality of convexly curved refractive profile regions is an annular region, and each of the first plurality of convexly curved refractive profile regions is concentric to the center of the lens. 
     
     
       2. The foldable lens of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of convexly curved refractive profile regions comprises first annular regions and wherein the second plurality of concavely curved refractive profile regions comprises second annular regions disposed between the first annular regions. 
     
     
       3. The foldable lens of  claim 2 , wherein the second side comprises a second optical surface optically coupled to the inner optical surface portion and the outer refractive surface portion. 
     
     
       4. The foldable lens of  claim 3 , wherein the second optical surface comprises a convex refractive surface profile having a positive optical power optically coupled to the inner optical surface portion and the outer refractive surface portion and wherein each of the concavely curved refractive profile regions comprises a negative optical power stronger than the positive optical power of the convex refractive surface profile to diverge the light energy away from the focus when placed in the eye. 
     
     
       5. The foldable lens of  claim 4 , wherein each of the convexly curved refractive profile regions comprises a positive optical power coupled to the positive optical power of the convex refractive surface to direct the light energy toward the focus and wherein the negative optical power of each concavely curved refractive profile region is stronger than the positive optical power of said each of the convexly curved refractive profile regions. 
     
     
       6. The foldable lens of  claim 4 , wherein the convex refractive surface profile of the second side comprises a diffractive profile disposed thereon. 
     
     
       7. The foldable lens of  claim 6 , wherein the diffractive profile comprises one or more of a substantially monofocal diffractive profile having positive optical power to correct chromatic aberration of the eye or a multifocal diffractive profile having positive optical power to correct chromatic aberration and increase a depth of field of the focus of the eye. 
     
     
       8. The foldable lens of  claim 4 , wherein the convex refractive surface profile comprises one or more of a spherical surface, a toric surface, an aspheric surface, a conic constant, a fourth order spherical aberration correction or a sixth order spherical aberration correction to correct monochromatic aberration of the eye. 
     
     
       9. The foldable lens of  claim 3 , wherein the second optical surface comprises a diffractive surface profile having a positive optical power, the diffractive surface profile optically coupled to the inner optical surface portion and the outer refractive surface portion and wherein each of the concavely curved refractive profile region comprises a negative optical power stronger than the positive optical power of the diffractive surface profile to diverge the light energy away from the focus when placed in the eye. 
     
     
       10. The foldable lens of  claim 1 , wherein the inner optical surface portion comprises a convex refractive surface profile. 
     
     
       11. The foldable lens of  claim 1 , wherein the inner optical surface portion comprises a diffractive surface profile. 
     
     
       12. The foldable lens of  claim 1 , wherein the inner optical surface portion and the outer refractive portion of the first side comprise an aspheric surface. 
     
     
       13. The foldable lens of  claim 3 , wherein the second optical surface comprises an aspheric surface. 
     
     
       14. The foldable lens of  claim 1 , wherein the foldable lens comprises an intraocular lens having at least two haptics affixed to the lens. 
     
     
       15. The foldable lens of  claim 1 , wherein the optically transparent foldable material comprises an acrylic material. 
     
     
       16. The foldable lens of  claim 1 , wherein the lens has an optical power of at least +5 D and a center thickness of no more than about 0.7 mm.